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Sainsbury’s has banned the sale of fireworks across all of its stores

Other supermarkets, meanwhile, are selling 'silent' versions this year.

Georgina Pellant - 19th October 2021

Sainsbury’s supermarket has made a landmark move by banning the sale of fireworks ahead of the country’s annual Bonfire night celebrations.

It has been confirmed that the retailer is removing products from all of its 2,300 stores across the country this year, meaning that shoppers will not be able to purchase fireworks from them, and instead, Sainsbury’s is encouraging shoppers to opt for light-up spinning wands or glow sticks in the place of the usual explosive pyrotechnics.

Blaming a ‘range of factors,’ a spokesperson for Sainsbury’s said: “We regularly review the products available in our stores and we are no longer selling fireworks based on a range of factors.

“Customers can continue to choose from a range of seasonal products, such as glow sticks and light-up spinning wands.”

The retailrer’s decision follows a Scottish survey that found the majority of people in the country supported a ban on fireworks after over 16,000 respondents gave their opinion to the Scottish government ahead of this year’s Bonfire night celebrations.

However, Sainsbury’s is not the first supermarket to ban the sale of fireworks, following in the footsteps of Coop – which has not sold them for five years.

Elsewhere, other supermarkets have released statements confirming that their sales will go ahead – but some will sell ‘silent’ versions this year.

A spokesperson for Asda explained their decision to sell ‘low noise’ fireworks this year, saying: “We know that many of our customers love fireworks, but we also know that some customers and their pets don’t like the noise, which is why this year we have launched a collection of low noise fireworks so that everyone can still enjoy the show.”

An Aldi spokesperson, meanwhile, said that the retailer would continue to sell fireworks before adding that it “understands the importance of animal welfare when celebrating [with fireworks] which is why our sales materials include reminders that pets should be kept safe indoors along with advice on how to make them feel secure.”

Tesco is another retailer that will continue to sell fireworks this year across all of its stores.

Dogs Trust, however, has congratulated Sainsbury’s for its decision, with a spokesperson saying: “although they can look beautiful, fireworks can be very distressing for dogs when let off unexpectedly.

“Because they are so easily accessible all year-round, dog owners are on tenterhooks as to when their beloved pooch will next be frightened.”

Feature image – BillyH vis Wiki Commons